Anika from empire biography

Grace Byers

American actress

Grace Byers (née Gealey) is a Caymanian-American actress. She starred as Anika Calhoun in the Fox music-industry drama series, Empire from to In , she began starring as Quinn Joseph in the Amazon Prime Video comedy series, Harlem. In , Byers played a leading role in the comedy horror film, The Blackening.

Early life

Grace was born in Butler, Pennsylvania to Caymanian parents and raised in the Cayman Islands from about age 2.[1][2] Her parents are deaf, so she communicates with them using sign language.[3] After moving to the United States at age 18,[1] she received her bachelor's degree in Theater Arts at the University of South Florida in Tampa.[2] Grace later attended the University of California, Irvine, where she received her Master’s of Fine Arts in acting.[2]

Career

Byers then moved to New York City, where she performed Off-Broadway, including in Venus Flytrap: A Femme Noir Mystery, and Rent.[4][5] In , she performed in the Chicago productions of The Misanthrope and Tartuffe.[6][7] In , Gealey was cast as Anika Calhoun in the Fox musical prime time drama, Empire opposite Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.[8][9] The series debuted on January 7, [10] She left the series after four seasons in

In , Byers was cast as Kate, a jazz singer and lounge owner, in the indie thriller Bent, making her big screen debut.[11] In , Byers published a children's book titled I Am Enough, based on her experiences being bullied as a child for having deaf parents. She wrote it to empower children to love and accept themselves.[12]

From to , Byers starred as Reeva Payge in the Fox superhero series The Gifted. In , she began starring as Quinn Joseph in the Amazon comedy series, Harlem.[13] The following year, she starred in the comedy horror film, The Blackening.[14]

Personal life

Byers became engaged to her Empire costar Trai Byers in [15] She and Byers married on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands on April 14, [16][17] Their son was born in [18]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
– EmpireAnika Calhoun Series regular, 66 episodes [13]
– The GiftedReeva Payge Series regular; 16 episodes [13]
TalesEdie Episode:"My Life"
–present HarlemQuinn Joseph Series regular [13]
PhoenixKatherine 'Boz' Bosworth Series regular

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ abWilson, Kimberly (26 October ). "'Empire' Star Grace Byers Wants Lovers To Experience The Cayman Islands". Essence. Retrieved 26 September
  2. ^ abcMoise, Herlande (November 11, ). "Let's Talk About Beauty: Chatting up with Empire's Grace Gealey". Archived from the original on April 3, Retrieved May 10,
  3. ^Staff, The Doctors (16 April ). "Grace Gealey on Growing Up with Non-Hearing Parents". . The Doctors. Retrieved 31 May
  4. ^"Cayman talent off-Broadway". Retrieved 15 January
  5. ^"Cayman actor Grace Gealey Broadway experiences". Cayman 27. Archived from the original on 18 January Retrieved 15 January
  6. ^"Review: The Misanthrope (Court Theatre)". . Archived from the original on Retrieved
  7. ^"Review: Tartuffe (Court Theatre)". . Archived from the original on Retrieved
  8. ^Lesley Goldberg (10 March ). "Gabourey Sidibe Reunites With Lee Daniels on Fox's 'Empire'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 January
  9. ^The Deadline Team (10 March ). "Gabourey Sidibe Joins Fox Drama Pilot 'Empire' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 15 January
  10. ^"Gealey graces TV in new FOX series". The Cayman Reporter. Archived from the original on 24 February Retrieved 15 January
  11. ^ abKroll, Justin (24 March ). "'Empire' Star Grace Byers Joins Karl Urban and Sofia Vergara in 'Bent'". . Variety. Retrieved 31 May
  12. ^Hair, Hype (23 October ). "Grace Byers' To Publish First Children's Book 'I Am Enough'". . Hype Hair. Retrieved 31 May
  13. ^ abcdTurchiano, Danielle (13 December ). "Grace Byers on Bringing Her Caymanian Roots Into Amazon's 'Harlem'". Variety. Retrieved 26 September
  14. ^Davids, Brian (June 21, ). "'The Blackening' Star Grace Byers on Tackling the Horror Genre's Most Careless Tropes". The Hollywood Reporter.
  15. ^Corinthios, Aurelie. "It's Official! Grace Gealey Shows Off Engagement ". People. Time Inc. Retrieved October 7,
  16. ^"Empire Stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Have Secret Island Wedding". April 16, Retrieved April 16,
  17. ^"Empire Stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Get Married in Caribbean Beach Wedding". Us Weekly. April 16, Retrieved April 16,
  18. ^Fluker, Dominique (April 17, ). "Grace And Trai Byers Announce The Arrival Of Their First Child On Their Wedding Anniversary". Essence. Retrieved September 17,
  19. ^"Movie based on Oregon School for the Deaf championship track team filming in Salem". Statesman Journal. 19 July Retrieved 18 January
  20. ^"See the Cover of Empire Star Grace Byers' Upcoming Children's Book I Believe I Can". . Retrieved Nov 24,
  21. ^"I Believe I Can - Grace Byers - Hardcover". HarperCollins Publishers: World-Leading Book Publisher. Retrieved Nov 24,
  22. ^"I Am Enough - Grace Byers - Hardcover". HarperCollins Publishers: World-Leading Book Publisher. Retrieved Nov 24,
  23. ^"I AM ENOUGH by Grace Byers , Keturah A. Bobo &#; Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved Nov 24, &#; via

External links